Lifeboat launching mechanism



Feb- 23, 1932- R. M. DILLON LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING MECHANISM Filed May l, 1931 4' Sheets-Sheet um RN ilu-22233233!! .II

Feb. 23, 1932. R. M. DILLoN l v 1,846,953

` LIFEBAT LAUNCHINGYMECHANI.SMIv

Fil-ed May l, l1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 z'ZZaMINVENTOI;V

BY www @1460 ATTORNEYS Feb. 23, 1932. R. M. DILLQN LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING MECHANISM Filed My 1, 1931 4 sheets-sheet 5 Feb. 23, 1932. R. M. nlLLoN LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING MECHANISM Filed May l, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mzzzo, BY W.

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 23, 1932 ATENT otros RAYMOND M. DILLON, 0F MIAMI, FLORIDA LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING- MECIVIAN ISM Application 1ed May 1,

The invention relates to mechanism or means for launching life boats from ships.

Theprimary object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of the character specified, wherein the life boats upon a vessel will be automatically outcast therefrom for the launching of the same and can be released by a person within such life boats, the mechanism being of novel form toassure safety and the positive release of the boat from the vessel, ship or the like.

Another object of the invention is the prow'sion of mechanism of this character, wherein the usual davits are dispensed with for the supporting of the life boats upon a ship or y vessel, and each boat can be carried overboard and lowered, and then released by the occupant within the life boat.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of the character specified which is comparatively simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and etlicient in operation, sturdy, durable and inexpensive to manufacture and install. l

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafterV more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred ein-V bodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view through the hull or body of a ship, showing the mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention thereon for supporting life boats, one of the boats being extended overboard, while the other boat is resting upon the deck of the ship.x

Figure 2 is a top plan view. y

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line #1r-11 .of Figure 3, looking in the direction of they arrows.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Figure 4, looking lin the direction of the arrows. Y l

1931. `semi No. 534,341. i

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 6 6 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of thedeck of the device for the life boat when restingupon the deck, the device being shown by full lines in the position when the llfe boat is resting and by dotted lines when the boat is to be released from said device.

Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1. Figure 9 is a detailview, in section, showing a spring held -pin for engaging and releasing the hook of one supporting cable.l

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally portions of superposed decks of a ship or Vessel 'and on each deck is arranged chock bearers 10, these being spaced the required distance apart and have swingingly connected lthereto chocks 11 adapted to swing from perpendicular or vertical position to horizontal position, these chocks `being constructed to support a life boat 12, as shown in Figure 1 of the draw- Y ings. Pivoted at 13 with the axle of one of the chocks is a lever 14 which has pivoted thereto a link or connecting rod 15, the same being pivoted to a cranklG connected with the axle 17 of the other chock 11 of the pair disposed next to the outer side of the ship or Vessel, so that on operating the lever, these chocks can be swung from perpendicular position, which is their supporting relation to theboat 12, to a horizontal position whereby the said boatcan be cleared or swung outwardlyoverboard of the ship orvessel.

Beyond the points of the bearers 10 of the checks 11 and suitably anchored to each deck A and risinga proper height vertically therefrom are intermedia-te and outer uprights or posts 18 and 19 respectivelywhich have arranged at their upper ends hangers 20 between which and slidably engaged ltherewith is a rack rail 21 in the form of an I beam constituting a crane for extension overboard of the shi or Vessel, but normally inboard thereof. uitably journaled in a pair of the outer opposed uprights 19 is a power shaft 22 having fixed thereto cog pinions or gears 23 meshing with the toothed rack 24 on said rail 21 at its under side, the shaft 22 at one end being fitted with a crank handle 25 soy that the shaft can be rotated and in this. way the cranes which are located beyond opposite ends of the boat 12 can be extended or retracted, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1V of the drawings.

Mounted in any suitale manner near thef j lass has fitted thereto a hand crank so that on actuating the latter, the cable can be let oiil or wound upon this windlass and in this manner, the boat 12 when overcast outboard can be raised and lowered, andV finally dropped by releasing elements 31.

Each boat has mounted onone side thereof either upon its gunwale 36 or below the same a pairY of spaced releasing clamps, each comprising a block-like bearing 37 fastened to the boat 12 in any suitable manner and has swingingly supported betweenv pivot ears 38 a pair of opposed gripping and releasing jawsy 39 provided with heel extensions 40, these jaws 39 being swingingly supported upon vertical pivots 41 engaged or mounted in the ears 38 and are adaptedfor releasable engagement with an I-shaped rail or track42 secured vertically to the outer face of the hull of the ship or vessel, it being understood, of course, that a pair of these rails is positioned on the hull in confronting relation to the clamps on the boat 12 so that when the boat is lowered into the path ofthe rails 42, the clamps can engage therewith to lock the boat thereto. Y

J ournaled centrally inthe bearings 37 are stud axles 43, each being projected interiorly of the boat 12 and at their inner ends are fitted with arms 44 to which is pivoted a connecting rod 45 so that the pair of arms can be shifted in unison. The rod 45 is con nected at 46 with a throw lever 47 pivoted at 48 to a bracket mounted interiorly of the boat 12 and this lever 47 is manually operable.

On the stud axles 43, within the bearings 37, are cross heads 49 to which are pivotally connected at opposite ends thereof links 50, these being also pivoted to resisting blocks or retaining members 51 adapted to co-act withthe heel extensions 40 of the jaws 39 on the closing of the latter to maintain such jaws in clampingY position on the rail 42 Aship on the rails, to a safe distance from the water. Then as the ship rolls backl to the side on which the life boat is suspended, the life boat is released from the rails 42 and swings away from the ship by reason of the 'list of the ship. Then, at the proper moment, when the ylife boat has swung away from the vessel as far'as it will (depending upon the degree of roll and at the moment when the life boat is 'close to the water) the cable release elements in the ends of the life'` boat are tripped and the life boat is dropped to the water.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a life boat, of a support adaptedto be arranged on board a` ship and for suspendingsaid boat overboard, means on the exterior of the ship and extending upwardly along the hull, these means constituting guiding elements, and means on the boat comprising pairs of pivoted jaws for g5 slidable engagement with the guiding elements when the boat is lowered. v

2. The combination withl a life boat, of a support adapted to be arranged onboard a ship and for suspending said boat overboard,r

means on the exterior of the ship and means on the boat for retaining said boat engaged with the meansfirst named when the'boatis lowered, Vand means for the releasing of'said boat from the ship by an occupant within theY boat.

3. The combination witha life boat, of a support adapted to be arranged on board a ship and for suspending said boat overboard, v

means on the exterior of the ship and lon the boat to retain the latter engaged therewith when said boat is lowered, means for the releasing of said boat from the shipby an occupantl within the boat, and chocks vinboard of the ship for the-resting of the boat"" therein and releasable to free the latter. j

4. The combination with a life bo-at, of la support adapted to be arranged on board a ship andV for suspending said boat overboard,

means on the exterior of the ship and on the i boat to retain the latter engaged while said boat is lowered, means for the releasing of said boat from the ship by an occupantwithin the boat, chocks inboard of the shipfor the resting of the boat therein and releasable' to free the latter, and means for controlling the support.

5. The combination with a life boat,`of a support adapted to bearranged on board a ship and for suspending said boat overboard,

means on the exterior of the ship and on the boat to retain the latter engaged While said boat is lowered, means for the releasing of said boat from the ship by an occupant Within the boat, chocks inboard of the ship for the resting of the boat therein and releasable to free the latter, means for controlling the support, and means for permitting the 10W- erng of the boat from the support.

In testimony Whereor` I affix my signature.

RAYMOND M. DILLON. 

